Means for splitting pipe collars in situ



Api-i121, 1936. w. T. WELLS'. 2,037,955

MEANS FOR SPLITTING PIPE COLLARS IN SITU Filed July I4, -1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v mi Era/2 Q M mm A TOR/VE Y yplril 21, i936. A W. liy WELLS l 2,037,955

MEANS FOR SPLITTING PIPE-COLLARS IN SITU A T ORNE Y atentedlprt 2li, ld@ I l I accises amiens son sentarme rms commis nv erro Waiter 'i'. weils, Glendale, Calif.; assigner to rnc Technicrait Engineering. Corporation, Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Application .iniy ii, 1934, serial No. 735,213

o claims. (ci. si-ias) My invention relates to e. means and method of ring upon Splitting the'pipe collar; Figure 10 is a. splitting pipe collars in situ, and the objects of fragmentary Seotiona-l View Similar 'to Figure 8 my invention are; showing one of the positioning springs inits re.

First, to provide a means of this class which is tracted position; 'Figure '11 is a transverse sec.

5 particularly designed for use in deep wells when tional view through i I-II of Figure 7 with'the 5 it is desired to disconnect a tubing string at some tubing string omitted; Figure 12 is another secpoint intermediate its ends, and which insures tional view through l2-i2 of Figure-7. the disconnection of the tubing string at the de My means and method of Splitting pipe collars sired point; may be used in conjunction with any of the inner 1o Second, to provide a means of this class which tubing strings or well casings or even the cuter' 10 minimizes the need of rotating the tubing string casing ci Wells in some instances. 'Shown in ccnand the attendant danger ci unscrewing the same junction with my means are two fragmentary at some undesired point; sections of pipe, designated A, threaded at their Third, to provide a means of this class which adjacent ends andi joined by a coupling B.

15' reduces to a minimum the damage'to the tubing Attention is rst directed to Figures 1 to 5 in- 15v string and any surrounding casing i clusive wherein is shown a cylindrical body mem-h Fourth, to provide a means and method of this ber i the lower end of which is provided with a class which utilizes gun iire controlled from the relatively large recess or chamber la into the mouth oi the well to split the pipe collars; lowerend of which nts la bottom or guide plug 2.

Fifth, to provide a means of this class which The plug f2. has a relatively large opening 2a 20 may be readily and quickly positioned in accurate therethrough and the lower portion of the chamrelation with the collar to besplit; y ber is provided with laterally directed ports ib.

Sixth, to provide a method of splitting pipe' The chamber la receives a plunger 3. A plucollars in situ which may be readily and quickly rality of positioning springs 4 are suitably secarried out, and I cured to the plunger 3 and extend upwardly along 25 Seventh. to provide a means of this class which the sides thereof and 'within the chamber la. may be readily and quickly withdrawn upon com- Said chamber is provided with upwardly and outpletion of the intended operation. wardly directed slots ic which form guides for With the above and other objects in View as the several positioning springs i. The springs 4 may appear hereinafter referenceis made to the and slots lo are-so arranged'that when the -30 drawings, in which! plunger 3 is in its upper position the springs 4 Figure l iS an elevational View of my pipe Collar curve outwardly and upwardly to engage the walls Splitting means in its extended position With its of the pipe A and to spring against the collar B Supporting Cable Shown raglnentarly; Figure 2 as they pass. In this positionthe springs allow is a, longitudinal sectional View thereof taken the body member t0 move downwardly past the 35 through 2-'2 of Figure l, Witlre tubing String collars but engage a shoulder, designated C,

coupling showninrelationtherewith; Figure 3 is a formed at the lower extlemty of an upper pipe partial sectional partial elevational View thereof section upon withdrawing the body memben 1n Similar to Figure 2 but Showing the means n'ts retheir retracted positionwhen the pistonA is in its 40 treated position: Figure t is a transverse Section- Vlower position the springs 4 are within the cnom- 40 al view throughfl-ii of Figure 1 With e position'- ber la and are adapted to engage a recess id pro' ine Spring Shown tu elevation; Figure 5 iS an vided therein, as shown in Figure 3. elevational View of a tubing String Collar eS it The upper end of the body member I receives appears upon being Spli a cap member 5 which is secured in any suitable 45 Figure 6 iS en elelotionel View 0f ad modified Amanner to' a cable E. Said cable includes a cenfcrm of my means for splitting pipe collars: traily disposed insulated conductor 6a. Figure -7 iS el longitudinal Sectional View thereof Above the 'Chamber the body member i is pro'- tgken through 'fl--l of Figure 6 and Showing the vided with a recess ofsmaller diameter interim, tubing String in relation therewith; Figure 8 is a seating its upper end and closed there by a plug y fragmentary sectional view showing one of the i to form a chamber le. Said chamber receives 0. positioning springs in its 'extended position and a cartridge Shaving a iilanient 8a extending taken substantially through 8 8 of Figure l2; therethrough which is arranged in a circuit .fwith Figure 9 isairaginentary partial sectional partial the conductor a'so as to be heated to incanelevatlonal view of the means and surrounding descence and ignite -an explosive packed/within 55 tubing string in the position and condition occurthel cartridge. Y .i

'I'he bore If is provided with a suitable sealing means I at its extremity.

The chamber le is also vintersected by a port Ig which is directed towards the piston chamber Ib and controlled by a check valve means II tov prevent the entrance of uid into the chamber Ie..

Operation of the above described structure is as followsz` The means is lowered in the tubing or casing slightly 'beyond the desired joint then withdrawn.

-means causing the projectile to penetrate said pipe section and coupling. l In doing so the wedgeV shaped point of the projectile splits the coupling substantially as shown in Figure 5, whereupon the .sections of pipe above the split coupling may be withdrawn by a direct upward movement perhaps assisted by a slight turning action. Inesmuch as the coupling is split, even though it should still hold against axial movement the pipe may be rotated with assurance of unscrewing at this point, as the other undamaged joints in the tubing string oier greater resistance. y Upon firing the projectile, part of .the'energy is directed through the port Ig to force the plunger 3 downwardly so as to Withdraw or retractthe'positioning springs. If the pipe contains a liquid, saidv liquid is displaced through the ports Ib and opening 2a.

The structure illustrated in Figures 6 to 12 differs over the ab'ove described structure principally in that spring means is provided for shiftn ing the plunger, the spring means being restrained by aseverable member traversing the path of the projectile.

A body member I2 is provided which is generally similarato the body member I having a recess or chamber I2a extending upwardly from its lower end, the recess receiving4 a plug I3. Ports I2b are provided in the chamber I2a and the plug I3 is likewise ported. The chamber I'2a receives a plunger I4 which carries a plurality of positioning springs I5 positioned along the sides thereof and directed through slots |20 so as to engage the shoulder C and to be locked in a retracted position by a. recess formed within the chamber I2a, as in the first described structure.

TheV plunger I l is cup shaped and receives. a spring I6 which bears against the upper end of therecess or chamber I2a. to urge the plunger downwardly and thereby retract the positioning Above the chamber I2, the body member I2 is provided with a'laterally directed socket' the' inner portion of which receives a cartridge I1 and the outer portion of which is enlarged and j screw threaded to receive a short gun barrel I8.

-A sealing and iire delaying plate .I9 is secured between the gun barrel I8 and the cartridge I1 and additional yieldable sealing means .may be provided.

'I'he body member is provided with a cap member 20 which is suitably connectedwith a cable 2| carrying an insulated conductor 2Ia adapted to be connected with the' cartridge. The cartridg'e Il is constructed 4similarly to the caracerbes 'ree plunger is so as-to traverse the mouth of the gun barrel. The lower end of the arm 24 has' a. tooth 24a which iits into 'a slot formed in the side of the body member and a registerable recess provided in the side of the plunger.

Operation of the above described structure is asollowsz' I The structure is lowered, positioned and fired in .the manner of the. iirst described structure. -Howeven the projectile severs the catch arm 2d and at the same time forces the tooth 24a clear oi its socket whereupon the plunger is forced to its lower position by the spring I6. Also in the last ydescribed structure greater velocity is given the projectile by reason of the plate I which must rst be ruptured;l although the cartridg E of the rst described structure may have a metal jacket to function in the same manner as the plate la..

My method of splitting pipe collars in situ consists in lowering a projectile iiring gun into the pipe to be disconnected, locating a particular connection, positioning the gun in a predeter.- mined relation with the connection so as to nre through the surrounding collar, then electrically discharging the gun to drive a wedge shaped builet through the collar and split the same.

I claim: 1

l. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a device insertable in a pipe line for locating internally a collar connected joint; and a gun unit connected with said device for iiring a splitting projectile through said collar; and mechanism for rendering said device inoperative to facilitate removal of said device and/gun unit. 2. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string; a device carried by said body structure for locating internally a. collar connected joint; and a gun unit also carried by said body Astructure and positioned. relative to said device to re a projectile through the collar located fthereby; and means for rendering said device inoperative upon ring of said gun unit.

is held in its upper position by Y a 4c atclci arm 2li which is secured to the side of lthe body member in a slight recessand depends 3. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ ccmprising; a device insertable in a, lpipe line for locating internally a collar connected joint; explosive actuated collar splitting means positioned in proximity to said device; and an instrumentality responsive to the said collar splitting means to render said device inoperative.

4. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a body structure adaptedto be lowered in a pipe string; aplunger carriedthereby: a plurality of positioning fingers carried by Asaid plunger and shiftable thereby from an extended or engaging position with the interior of a collar connected joint to a retracted or inoperative position; a gun unit carried by said body structure in proximity to said plunger arranged to fire a projectile through a, collar located by said positioning fingers; and means for retracting said fingrs upon firing of said gun unit.

5. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string; a plunger carried thereby; a

plurality of positioning fingers' carried by said plunger and shiftable thereby from an extended or engaging position with the interior of a collar connected joint to a retracted or inoperative p sition; an explosive actuated means arranged to exert a splitting pressure upon said collar; and

means for retracting said lingers to facilitate withdrawal of said body. structure upon discharge of said explosive actuated means.

6. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comi prising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string; a plurality of positioning ngers carried by said body structure arranged to engage the interior of a collar. connected joint: a gun unit carried by said body structure in proximity to said positioning ngers and arranged to iire a projectile through a collar located by said vlingers; and means for retracting said fingers upon ring oi said gun unit.

7. A means oi' splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string; a plurality of positioning ngers carried by said body structure arranged to engage the interior of a collar connected Joint; an explo.-

sive actuated means carried by said body structure in proximity to said positioning fingers and arranged to exert a splitting pressure upon said collar; and means for retracting said ngers to facilitate withdrawal of said body structure upon discharge of said explosive actuated means.

8. A means for splitting pipe collars in situ'comprising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string;.ya plurality oi positioning fingers carried by said body structure arranged to engage the interior of alcollar connected joint; an explosive actuated means carried by said body structure in proximity to said positioning fingers and arranged to exert a splitting pressure upon said collar; and means for retracting said iingers.

9. A means of splitting pipe collars in situ comprising; a body structure adapted to be lowered in a pipe string; a plurality of positioning fingers carried by said body structure arranged to engage the interior of a collar connected joint; an explosive actuated means carried by said body structure in proximity to said positioning lingers and arranged. to exert a splitting pressure upon Said collar, said explosive actuated means comprising a cartridge within said body structure, a lateral bore extending from said cartridge and directed towards a collar located by said iingers, a uid excluding seal initially closing the outer end of said bore. anda projectile within said bore; and means for retracting said lingers.

\ yWAL'I'ER T. WELLS. u 

